Adjustable folding chair.



PATENTED DEG. 26, 1905.

W. S. LEWIS. ADJUSTABLE FOLDING CHAIR.

APPLICATION FILED NIB. 8. 1905.

Ina/6205011- WWMJW 7 d 172 2 14955 0 s r 71/ 9%? WW immediately adjacent parts.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 26, 1905.

Application filed February 8,1905. Serial-N0. 244.685.

Tc (.LZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, WARNER S. LEWIS, a citizen of the United States, residing in l/Vilmington, in the county of Newcastle and State of Delaware, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Adjustable Fold ing Chairs, of which the following is a speci iication.

The invention relates to folding rockingchairs; and the object of the invention is to provide a chair in which the angles of the seat and back relatively to the rockers may be varied to suit the occupant and which may be compactly folded for easy transportation and storage and which shall be strong, light, and attractive in appearance.

The invention consists in certain novel features and details of construction by which the above objects are attained to be hereinafter described.

The accompanying drawings form a part of this specification and show an approved form of the invention.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the chair in the open condition; and Fig. 2 is a corresponding vertical section, partly in elevation, showing the means of adjustment and Fig. 3 is a rear elevation, partly in vertical section, with a portion of the chair-back broken away. Fig.

4 is a side view, corresponding to Fig. 1, showing the chair in the folded condition. The remaining figures are on a larger scale and show details detached. Figs. 5 and 6 are respectively side and front elevations of a metal piece serving as a portion of certain joints. Fig. 7 is a side view of the notched segment by which the adjustment is effected and a section through the engaging dog therefor. Fig. 8 is a corresponding end view of the segment alone. Fig. 9 is a plan or top view of an angular metal connection for joining the rear edge of the seat to the back, and Fig. 10 is a corresponding end view.

Similar letters of reference indicate the same parts in all the figures.

A A are the rockers of usual shape joined by transverse braces A A B B are side bars of the back joined by transverse braces B B between which extend the spindles B forming the chair-back. The lower ends of the side bars rest upon the upper faces of the rockers and are held against displacement laterally by the plates B B, attached one to each side bar on the exterior face applying against the adjacent exterior face of the rocker.

The seat C may be of any approved construction and is pivotally secured to the back by the angular or gooseneck ins C C on plates secured to the rear edge 0 the seat and extending underneath the seat-frame and received incorresponding holes in plates B one on each interior face of the side bars at the proper height. At points 0 on each side of the seat near the rear is pivotally attached a downwardly and forwardly extending leg D, pivoted on the exterior face of its rocker A at A near the front, and E E are similar supports pivotally secured to castings C G attached to the under face of the seat near each side and near the front. Each support E extends downwardly and rearwardly within and crossing its leg D and terminates in a curved end E, to the inner face of which is secured a curved segmental plate E of metal,

extending below the end E and provided With a series of inclined notches or open slots e, in which is received a dog A fixed on the rearmost brace A Each plate E also carries an outwardly-projecting pin E received in a groove 1) on the adjacent inner face of the side bar and serves to hold the latter in position longitudinally of its rocker.

F F are arms pivotally attached to the exterior faces of the side bars at B, .the front ends being supported by struts F F, pivoted to the sides of the seat at C near the front and to the under faces of the arms by castings at F similar to the castings C above described.

The parts being properly proportioned and joined, as shown, the chair serves as an armed rocker. The pitch or angle of the back relatively to the rockers may be changed by disengaging the plates E from the dogs A by a lifting movement of the seat and reengaging them therewith in different notches e of the series, the notches nearer the rear end inducing a greater rearward inclination of the back and those nearer the front ends of the plates E causing the back to assume a more nearly upright position, the seat C correspondingly changing its angular relation to the back.

A is a fixed stop on each rocker, forward of the side bars B, serving to limit the forward movement of the latter by contacting with their lower ends.

The folding operation is performed by lifting the front of the seat, thus disengaging the plates E from the dogs A and turning the upper front face of the back forward and downward until the upper ends of its side bars B rest upon the upper faces of the front ends of the rockers, and the lower ends upon the rear ends of the rockers, as shown in Fig. 4. This movement causes the seat C to turn in the sockets B and assume a position nearly parallel with the back, while the struts F extend forwardly nearly in line with the seat and approximately parallel with the arms F F. -The legs D lie nearly parallel with the seat, their curvature enabing them to avoid interference with the struts, and the supports E lie within the legs D with their curved ends within the side bars B, the pins E still engaged in the slots 1), but at the opposite ends thereof, as shown, to which they travel as the side bars move rearwardly upon the rockers in the folding movement. It will be observed that when thus folded the chair occupies only the space determined by laying the back on the rockers, all the other members lying within this thick- To look the lower ends of the side bars to the rear ends of the rockers for convenience in handling, the upwardly and forwardly projecting hooks A are provided on the inner struts F may be omitted, as may also the locking-hooks A and lugs B The chair may be carved or otherwise or namented or upholstered, as the conditions and expense may warrant or taste dictate.

I claim 1. In a folding chair, a pair of rockers, a back having side bars supported upon said rockers with liberty to move longitudinally thereof, said side bars having longitudinally- .eXtending slots in their lower ends, a seat pivotally secured to said back, supports connecting said seat to said rockers, and engaged in said slots and means carried by said sup ports and adapted to engage said rockers for olding said side bars adjustably in position on said rockers and thereby varying the angle of said back relatively to said rockers when the chair is in the open condition.

2. In a folding chair, rockers connected by braces, a back having side bars the lower ends of which rest upon said rockers when the chair is in the open condition and are adapted to move longitudinally of said rockers, said side bars having longitudinallyeXtending slots in their lower ends a seat pivotally secured at the rear to said side bars, legs pivotally secured to said seat at the rear and to said rockers near the front, supports pivotally secured to said seat near the front and loosely engaged with said slots in the lower ends of said side bars, and .notches in said supports adapted to adjustably engage said rockers, whereby the relative inclination of the back, seat, and rockers may be varied.

3. In a folding chair, rockers connected by braces, a back having side bars the lower ends of which rest upon said rockers when the chair is in the open condition and are adapted to move longitudinally of said rockers, means carried by said side bars and engaging said' rockers to prevent lateral movement relatively thereto, a seat pivotally secured to said side bars, legs pivotally secured to said seat at the rear and to said rockers at the front, supports pivotally secured to said seat near the front and loosely engaged with the lower ends of said side bars, curved plates carried by said supports at their lower ends and having each a series of notches, dogs mounted on one of said rocker-braces and adapted to engage said notches, whereby the relative inclination of the back, seat and rockers may be varied.

4. In a folding chair, rockers connected by braces, a back having side bars thelower ends of which rest upon said rockers when the chair is in the open condition, adapted to move longitudinally of said rockers and having longitudinally extending grooves on the inner faces of said lower ends, means carried by said side bars and engaging said rockers to prevent lateral movement relatively thereto, a seat pivotally secured to said side bars, legs pivotally secured to said seat at the rear and to said rockers near the front, supports pivotally secured to said seat near the front, curved plates carried by said supports at their lower ends and having each a series of notches,

dogs carried on one of said rockerbraces and adapted to engage said notches, and a pin on each of said plates engaged in one of said grooves.

5. In a folding chair, rockers connected by braces, a back having side bars thelower ends of which rest upon said rockers and arranged to move longitudinally thereof, grooves in the inner faces of said lower ends, a seat pivotally secured to said side bars, arms pivotally secured to said side bars above said seat, struts pivoted to said seat and to said arms, legs pivotally secured to said seat at the rear and to said rockers near the front, supports pivotally secured to said seat near the front, curved plates carried bysaid supports at their lower ends and having each a series of notches, dogs carried by one of said rocker-braces and adapted to engage said notches, and a pin on each of said curved plates engaged in one of said grooves.

6. The folding chair described comprising rockers connected by braces, a back having side bars adapted to rest upon said rockers and arranged to move longitudinally thereof, grooves in the lower ends of said side bars, a seat pivotally secured to said side bars and adapted to fold approximately parallel with said back, arms pivotally secured to said side bars above said seat, struts from the latter to said arms, said arms and struts adapted to lie approximately parallel with said seat when said seat and back are folded, legs pivotally secured to said seat at the rear and to said rockers near the front, supports pivotally secured to said seat near the front, curved plates on the lower ends of said supports,

notches in said curved plates, dogs on one of said rocker-braces adapted to engage said notches, pins in'said curved plates enga ed in said grooves, forwardly projecting liooks near the rear ends of said rockers, and lugs on said side bars adapted to engage said hooks when the chair is folded by a forward and downward movement of the back to and upon said rockers, all the several chair members lying in the space inclosed between said back and rockers.

In testimony that I claim the invention above set forth I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WVARNER S. LEWIS.

W'itnesses:

ARTHUR W. SWARTS, FRANK H. MAsoN. 

